At the Palace
Alfred was relieved when he learned that the Prince had informed his parents-in-law of his identity.
“I apologize, My King, for keeping my identity away from you,” he acknowledged that day at the dining table. 
The King and Queen pretended to have heard it for the first time, and assured him, “Don't let that bother you. It wasn't your fault.”
“The Queen is right, my son. It was not your fault. I believe that under normal circumstances, you wouldn't have done that,” the King added.
“Thank you for your understanding, My King, and my Queen.”
“Thank you, Grandma and grandpa. I appreciate your understanding,” Mirabel added. 
Likewise, her mother teased her, “You caused this, Mira. You kept him in suspense until a few hours before the wedding.”
“If I were Alfred, I would have picked up another woman,” the Prince teased, and they waited for her reaction. 
Mirabel's eyes opened wider. She held her husband's hand and pointed out, “That would have been disastrous.”
The family laughed.  Alfred laughed too and stated, “We would love to visit my country. I know that my father, especially my grandfather, would have been worried to death over my absence.”
“Really?” The King asked.
“Yes. For my grandfather to stay for over six months without seeing me, is hell on earth for him.”
“It is okay. I'm glad to hear that. They would be glad to have you.”
“If I may ask, when do you intend to visit?” The Prince asked.
“We would love to visit this coming festive period.”
Everyone agreed with his proposal, except the Queen.
“Why the festival? I had planned a special treat for you and your wife.”
“You're right, My Queen. I think he wished to take advantage of his friend's event at Nassau.”
“That is correct, My King. I wished to compensate my father and grandfather with the event.”
At that point, the Queen was pleased with Alfred's level of forgiveness and dropped her quest.
“Oh! That is very thoughtful of you, Alfred. You have my support.”
“Thank you, My Queen.”
“Thank you, Grandma.”
“You are welcome,”
They had their dinner happily, and they stayed behind and chatted. They mapped out how the International Film Center would yield revenue for the country. Nevertheless, the Prince was extremely pleased with the development that the country had recorded so far.
At Mirabel's Chamber
Alfred also had questions about his wife and in-laws. Since his identity issue had been resolved, he decided to broach the subject.
“Mira,” he called out when they got to the bed. She turned, and answered immediately, “Yes, Hubby.”
“I have been wondering.”
“Wondering over what, my dear?”
“I wish to know, why do you address the King and Queen as your grandfather and grandmother? Are they not your biological parents?”
Mirabel laughed softly, and explained, “It was my fault. My grandmother, I mean my mom, had corrected me severally, but I kept making the same mistake.”
Alfred smiled, and asked, “Where did you get the word from? Does she have other grandchildren apart from Aurora and Julie?”
“Not at all. She has no other grandchildren. I was told that when I was young, the domestic staff children addressed the King and Queen as grandpa Grandma, and I copied them.”
Alfred pulled her nose playfully, and teased, “I see. So, you are such a copycat.”
She laughed innocently, and pleaded, “You can say that again. You will have to help me. I want to stop addressing them as such.”
“I will. What about the Prince?”
“What about him?”
“Is he a widower?”
“Not at all. He divorced his wife recently.”
“What! The woman must have pushed him to the wall.”
“That was an understatement. She forced him into taking such a drastic step.”
“Was there a fight between them?”
“A fight? My brother does not like strife. He is just like you. He avoids trouble as much as he could.”
“You are right. I noticed that the first time I met him. But such people can be brutal when provoked.”
“Savagely violent. I thought he would hit me that night that you reported me to him.”
“Hit you? Has he hit you before?”
“Yes. Severally, but it paid off. I was born seventeen years after him. My grandmother …”
“Your mom,” Alfred interrupted and corrected her at once. 
She giggled and repeated, “Yes, my mom. She said I almost turned into a spoiled brat because she overindulged me until the Prince graduated from school and became my teacher and mentor.”
“That is good to hear.  Why did he divorce his wife when there was no fight?”
“I cannot say. I knew that she traveled out of the country and stayed for too long. He visited her and divorced her. He returned home as though nothing happened.”
Alfred laughed loudly, and pointed out, “I just said it. People like him can be brutal when provoked. Which country is that?”
“I don't know. I didn't even bother to find out.”
“It is all right. You have a wonderful family.”
“Thank you. Tell me what to expect if we get to Nassau.”
“You will meet my overloving grandfather and overprotective father.”
“Wow! I hope they would over-love and overprotect me.”
“I can't guarantee that. They may be withdrawn because I didn't marry their choice. Never mind, the important thing is that I have married you.”
At that point, Mirabel was cold, and he comforted her, “Don't let that bother you. It is an honor to you that I love you, and you surpassed those desperate women.”
She smiled painfully, and asked, “What about my mother-in-law? Will she be skeptical about me too?”
He kissed her temple, and stated, “You don't have a mother-in-law. I was told that she was killed the day I was born.”
“Oh, my God! Who killed her?”
“My parents hid the person's identity from me. I stopped asking when I couldn't get them to tell me.”
Now, Alfred was emotional. She dropped the discussion and pulled him closer to her breasts. 
She kissed him deeply, and encouraged him, “Don't let that bother you. At least, you have me and grand…. No. I mean Mom. You don't have any vacuum.”
Truly, he was encouraged. He continued kissing and whispering his appreciation and affirming his love for her.
“Thank you for loving me. You are the best thing that has happened to me.”
“I will always be. Thank you for patiently waiting for me.”
“You are worth waiting for. Nothing could be sweeter than loving my Mira.”
At last, they physically expressed their love for each other, and it was better than their first night in Africa.
At the King's and Queen's Bedroom. 
“Alfred's parents would be delighted to have him,” the King pointed out. 
The Queen smiled, and said, “Poor boy. He thought that they would see him for the first time since he left.”
“You are right. I wonder how he would feel if he discovered that they were at his wedding.”
“That is true. He would be shocked. By the way, do you mind if we go with them? We can spend a few days, and return before the festival.”
The Queen became cold, and rejected at once, “I hate Nassau. I don't wish to visit there for any reason.”
The King looked at her expression, and asked, “What do you mean? Do you know anyone from there?”
“Yes. I had a friend who was married to one of them but her husband killed her, and disappeared.”
“What? When was that?”
“It had been long.”
“Why didn't you inform me?”
“We were not aware until after some years when her father began to miss her.”
“That is pathetic, but you can't run away from them. You must visit there someday because of your daughter.”
“If I had known that Alfred is from Nassau, I would have discouraged Mirabel.”
“That's barbaric. You can't judge all with one person's sin.”
“Hiss. I think you are right.”
“Peck. Peck. I will give you time to think about it. Okay?”
“It is all right, my dear.”